Burton “Leroy” Benson quietly departed from this world to his eternal resting home on December 21, 2016, at the Delaware Hospice Center, Milford, Delaware. He was 78 years old.

Leroy was born on September 5, 1938 to the late Emmanuel and Sallie Benson, in Slaughter Neck, Delaware. He was preceded in death by sisters, Irene, Beulah and Emma “Louise”, and brothers Francis, Roland, Charles, James “Jimmy”, Alex, Randolph, Carl, Oscar and Harry, He was also preceded in death by a great grandchild, Bryce.

He retired after 38 years of service to Schiff’s Milling Company, Harrington, Delaware. Leroy really looked forward to going to work. He would awake at four (4 a.m.) in the morning to get ready for work. He made sure that he had the coffee made by the time his co-workers arrived. That way they had no excuse to start to working on time.

Leroy was a very interesting and particular kind of man. His love for his brothers and sisters was unconditional. He may fuss and talk about them, but would move heaven and earth for them. He enjoyed going over to his sister Catherine’s and taking her to the grocery store and doctor’s appointments. They were inseparable. Once his health failed and he couldn’t drive anymore then came his niece Barbara. She would drive him and Catherine everywhere they needed to go. They became the “Three Musketeers”. He also adored his grandchildren. When they were around he lit up like a ”Christmas Tree”. He was known to them as Pop-Pop or Pops. The grandchildren could do no wrong in his eyesight. Well, we all know about his eyesight, that is why he needed those eye drops “RIGHT”.

He was the kind of person that could say something to you, and when you saw that right index finger pointing at you, you knew he meant business. He was going to be right and you better not try to tell him otherwise. Some of his sayings were “I told you/them that this is what I need you to do” (finger pointing), “they won’t listen to me”, “you’re rushing me”, “put some ice in a cup and get me a Pepsi but don’t open it, okay now fill it to the top”, “you know what I have wanted you to get me from the store (after you have sit down and gotten comfortable)”. His favorite of all times was “call Angie”. I need to tell her what everyone else was doing right or wrong. He will truly be missed by all who came in contact with him.

He leaves to cherish fond memories of him, the mother of his children, Esther Mae Benson of Cambridge, MD; three (3) daughters, Angela “Benson” Chester (Larry) of Linkwood, MD, Bonnie Cromwell and Renita Cornish both of Cambridge, Md; three (3) sons, David Benson, Sr. (Kayann) of Atlanta, GA, Richard Benson, Sr. (Gale) of Cambridge, MD, and Timothy “Leroy” Benson (Chrystal) of Waldorf, MD; a very special sister, Catherine Stevens of Harrington, DE, a very special brother Delbert “Eugene” Benson (Delores); a very very special niece Barbara Jackson of Harrington, DE; a very special nephew Roland Benson of Lincoln, DE; two (2) special great-great nephews, Jeremiah and Matthew Brown; two (2) Sisters-in-law, Rev. Frances Benson and Anna Mae Benson; eighteen (18) grandchildren Regina Chester, Dominic Chester, Ja’Myra Chester, Jamaal Chester, Jessica Benson, David Benson, Jr., Richard Benson, Jr. (Tracey), Tiquon Murray, Demetria Herring, Tymesha Harris (Ronnell), Georgia Benson, Pearson Benson, Brandon Trippe, Shayonia Downes, Nikia Molock, Shamaya Molock, Shanetia Cornish, and Eranda Scott; nineteen (19) great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.

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